Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Excerpts from Chapters 2 and 3 Photo Photo by Jane by Jane Herbert Herbert
Did you know? Twenty-four species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 87 species of birds and 19 species of mammals are supported by Michigan inland lakes. (O Neal & Soulliere, et.al., 2006)
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Three tiers of vegetation Tree canopy Shrub understory Herbaceous plants Aquatic, wetland and upland Natural Shorelines are stable shorelines
Horizontal roots stabilize lake-bottom sediments
PROFUNDAL PROFUNDAL ZONE ZONE Modified from: University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Provides critical habitat for at least 65 native fish species. Spawning Nursery Feeding Predator avoidance Entire life cycle or seasonal use Twenty of these 65 fishes are considered to be Species of Greatest Conservation Need 1 1 Michigan Wildlife Action Plan (2005)
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Lawn to the water s edge Loss of fish and wildlife habitat Nuisance animal habitat Shoreline erosion and hardening Loss of shade Deadwood removal Sandy beach maintenance Polluted stormwater Excessive plant growth and algae blooms Oxygen loss Recreation impacts Chemical treatment
Results of a study of 44 Minnesota lakes indicate (on average) a 66% reduction in emergent and floating-leaf vegetation in the presence of shoreline development. Results of the same study indicate a positive relationship between the occurrence of emergent and floating-leaf vegetation and the abundance and size of certain fishes including: Northern pike Bluegill Pumpkinseed (Radomski and Goeman, 2001)
Loss of tiered vegetation and shade
Home Sweet Home
Reduce pollutants entering the lake Adapted From: Wisconsin DNR
Runoff Volume Phosphorus Inputs Sediment Inputs 4x 5x 6x Adapted From: Wisconsin DNR 18x
In freshwater aquatic systems 1 unit of phosphorus can produce 500 times its weight in algae. (Wetzel, Limnology, 2nd Edition)
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Identify upland cause(s) and source(s): Cause: overland runoff Source: stormwater collecting on impervious surfaces
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Identify the causes and sources at water s edge: Cause: Undercut bank and bank failure Source: Removal of long-rooted native vegetation plus prolonged and repeated high water levels (level controlled lake)
Consequences on inland lakes
Modified from: University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute PROFUNDAL ZONE
Wave energy flanking from neighboring sea wall
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Wave energy at vertical sea wall
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Littoral zone vegetation provides wave attenuation.
uses plants, plant products and special techniques to protect soil surface and create structure within the soil to withstand erosive forces. Overarching concept of any bioengineering technique is the reintroduction of deep-rooted native plants, creating a system that mimics naturally stable shorelines.
Bioengineered shoreline erosion control: NOT for the faint hearted!
Depends on: Fetch = Maximum uninterrupted distance across the lake from your location * Water Depth Wind Speeds Other factors
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Wisconsin On-line Erosion Calculator
12 inches
Lake types
Source: Four Townships Water Resources Council
How high does the water get?
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 2: Understanding the Shoreline Ice action along the shoreline Intensity and frequency can vary from year to year. Factors include: Freeze/thaw expansion and contraction Lack of snow cover and/or Spring ice-out (break-up) Rate of warm up Orientation of site to spring winds
Shapes and reshapes natural shorelines Ice ridges: Lakes and shorelines come to a dynamic equilibrium Removal of ice ridge give the lake the advantage Result is shoreline recession
Water Table
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Workshop for Property Owners Chapter 4: Design Ideas Lakefront Landscape: different approach. The upland and aquatic zones are outlined. (Source: MSU Extension) High Impact Lake Front Landscape. (Source: MSU Extension) Lake Front Landscape integrating a more manicured approach with buffers. (Source: MSU Extension)
Video: Restoration of a low to moderate energy shoreline property
Questions? Natural shorelines can preserve and/or restore ecological benefits to our lakes. Photo: Jane Herbert
Huron River Watershed Council Shoreline and Shallow Conference: Challenges and Successes March 11, 2015 Kellogg Center, MSU MSU Extension
Riverine Components How do we evaluate the Health of a Stream and its watershed? (Instream Flow Council)
Water Quality (US EPA)
Hydrology The study of water. Hydrology generally focuses on the distribution of water and interaction with the land surface and underlying soils and rocks.
Natural systems were built and are maintained by different magnitudes of discharge occurring over time and space. (Hill et al. 1991)
Fluvial Geomorpholgy '... the branch of science that studies the landforms associated with river channels and the processes that form them..' (Kellerhals and Church 1989)
Dimension (cross-section) Floodplain Point Bar Main Channel Pattern (plan view) Radius of Curvature General Stream Bed Slope Riffle Pool Profile
Dimension, Pattern, Profile, &Floodprone Width Yield 4 ratios used for stream reach classification 1. Entrenchment Ratio = Flood-Prone Width Bankfull Width 2. W/D ratio = Width bkf Depth mean 3. Sinuosity = Channel Length Valley Length All of these ratios define how a stream and its valley handle the energy of flowing water, sediment, and debris 4. Slope = Elevation difference Channel length
PATTERN Meandering reduces the slope, or steepness, of a stream (or a road)
Pages 4 39 to 4 47 Pattern and Profile are Intimately Linked Pattern Profile
Shape of channel affects sediment transport Comparison of designed channel dimensions and pattern with a natural channel. Sheer stress where: is the specific weight of the fluid, D is the mean depth, and S is the water surface slope. (Rosgen)
Ditches are designed to transport water more quickly. But ditches are inefficient at transporting sediment. Natural, meandered channels are the most efficient at transporting both water and sediment
Stream Stability Ability of a stream to transport the water & sediment of its watershed in such a manner as to maintain its dimension, pattern, and profile, over time, without either aggrading or degrading. Rosgen and Silvey, 1996
Connectivity
(Instream Flow Council)
Lateral Connectivity
Longitudinal Connectivity
Biology
Habitat Depth Velocity Substrate bottom material Cover hiding Avoid being eaten Eat others (ambush)
Questions?